I would be interested to hear if any other breast cancer sufferer who has had radiotherapy has latter developed an under active thyroid gland
I was going to put up a post under the Arimidex section, as it seems to be just another (as yet) newly discovered side effect! I know from a couple of girls that radiotherapy has caused underactive thyroid problems as they have had rads to the neck area. In my case (I did not have rads) they have now discovered a very underactive thyroid and it seems, although not confirmed by consultant, that it is a side effect of Arimidex as it ‘bu…s’ up your whole hormonal balance incl. the pituitary gland (spelling?) where the thyroid hormone is started. Am now on meds for this, with more bloodtests etc. and also an ultrasound planned and whatever else they can think off. Makes me feel like a guinea pig - every week/month they find something new.
Hi Burgit
It dont say much for me i start the first of 3 x FEC’s on monday then 3 x Taxotere then when lump has been shrunk removal and then radiothrapy ,oh hell and i already have an underactive thyroid that plays hell with my energy levels ,i asked yesterday and will ask at my pre check for chemo on friday if or how this would all affect my under active thyroid and have been told should be ok,i take 100mg thyroxin tablets every day so where will this all leave mine then.Antbody know any more please.
anne
Hi
I finished rads in March and was dx with underactive thyroid in Aug, i believe its due to rads but docs say not! Had no symptoms, was picked up on a routine blood test.
Rather curious now how many other ladies have been dx since rads!!
Gilly xx
Hi everyone, hmmm, this has got me thinking. I have been on Arimadex for about one year, and I am feeling tired a lot of the time. My daughter, 27yrs, has just been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, and I can see some similarities. It is difficult to tell what causes our symptoms. I will mention it at my next check up and let you know what they say.
Heidicat x
This is interesting - my thyroid function is very slightly under but doctor says not significant. Hair mineral analysis test also shows this tendency. I’m also very tired - 9 months after chemo and radio therapy and not taking anything else, so it’s not just pill side effects. I did read somewhere, to do with diet, that underactive thyroid has been noticed in women with breast cancer - chicken or egg?
Hi Tina,
I too read that hypothyroidism is quite common in those who have BC. Had mastectomy in July 2005 and diagnosed with underactive thyroid in April 2006 after becoming very ill over several months. On thyroxine lifelong as auto-antibodies are present. Can’t be any BC meds because I didn’t have chemo (thankfully) or radiotherapy and not on Arimadex. Strangely when I was diagnosed with FMS and CFS by a Neurologist in November 2006 ( my body seems to be letting me down big time ) - he told me that it can be triggered by having cancer and considered that to be the cause of my CNS malfunctioning . Seems to me there must be some immune system problem involved in all of this.
I have had further tests on my thyroid and a biopsy, as there are large nodules on the thyroid gland. Most certainly benign, so nothing too much to worry about, but the problem is caused by an auto-immune condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. (sound quite strange - I know). I googled it, and there seems some evidence that BC sufferers are more likely to get this - a breakdown of auto-immune system? My GP is also of the opinion - but it is only an opinion - that Arimidex can worsen this, if not infact cause it - but there is no firm evidence. So all in all, will just have to take Thyroxine, and getting the dose right is sproving to be a real nightmare, but I am beginning to feel a bit better in myself, so hope the drugs are ‘kicking’ in. My oncologist first suggested the thryoid function test, as he said that a lot of women are complaining of extreme tiredness, which they obviously put down to all their treatment, when it is infact a thyroid problem, so it might be worth being checked out by all of you who are still very tired, months after treatment has finished.
Birgit
May throw a spanner in the works here. Was dignosed BC in June this year but a month previously my thyroid reading were borderline for under-active thyroid. All this was put on hold with the BC. Lumpectomy, rads etc. Have had recent blood test through my GP and am now on Levothyroxine- low dose as my levels are still borderline high. Although this MAY be related to BC I had it well before Rads and I read that 1 in 50 women can develop this and may not even know it. Many of us may be confusing the symptoms with the drugs we take, i.e. Tamoxifen and Arimadex.
The only thing I know is that my GP says these tablets will make me feel better energy wise, so I can’t wait. I told my OH that I will probably turn into a sexy superwoman. His comment was that it would take more than a couple of pills!! Men, don’t you just love 'em!.
Norma x
I already had an underactive thyroid before I got breast cancer. I had radiotherapy and am also on arimidex and I have had to up my dosage of thyroxine from 100mcg to 150mcg a day but don’t know if that would have happened anyway. I also know of someone who had breast cancer at the same time as me who was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid as soon as her treatment had finished. I know four other women and one man with hypothyroidism and none of them has had breast cancer. It does seem to be a very common problem.
Gwyn
I have developed a very bloodshot eye for the past 4 days, something I have nvere had before, and I know this can be a sign of thyroid problems. I cant see my Dr till next week. Has anyone else had this?
Madeline